US Embassy report linked Ramos to plot
Other officers cited in Arroyo ouster by June

First posted 02:19am (Mla time) Oct 28, 2005
By Norman Bordadora
Inquirer News Service

EARLY on in the year, the US Embassy in Manila received information linking former President Fidel Ramos to reports of a supposed planned coup against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

According to an embassy report dated Feb. 24, 2005, and prepared before the "Jueteng-gate" and "Hello, Garci" scandals erupted, Ramos gave his former national security adviser, Jose Almonte, until June to implement the plan against the President.

At that time, the questions of legitimacy and integrity leveled at Ms Arroyo involved only the dismissed election protest of the late opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. and the persistent allegations of fraud in the 2004 polls.

"Most disturbingly, sensitive reports maintained that former President Ramos continues a series of meetings with Forces (Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Soldiers)," the report said.

It added: "[Forces], which includes many ex-members of Ramos' former Cabinet, including former Budget Secretary Salvador Enriquez, former Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat, and... Almonte, is mostly just a springboard for Ramos' conspiratorial hints of a forthcoming coup attempt."

Ramos, who helped install Ms Arroyo as president in January 2001 and "saved" her from ouster in July 2005, is currently on an official trip to Guangdong, China. He is expected back on Oct. 29.

The report did not carry the name of the embassy official who prepared the document. A copy of it was provided by the same source of the US files that were the subject of a special report by the Inquirer last month.

The files are believed to be among those pilfered by Filipino-American Leandro Aragoncillo from Federal Bureau of Investigation computers and forwarded to opposition personalities and groups here.

'Increased rhetoric'

The February 2005 report mentioned Enriquez as a member of Forces, but only Abat and Almonte were influential generals in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

One of the original members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, or RAM, Almonte is believed to maintain considerable clout among military officers.

Abat, on the other hand, has been constant in calling for Ms Arroyo's resignation.

"According to the source, Ramos has issued a deadline to Almonte to implement the plan by June 2005," the report said.

But it said Ramos' "increased rhetoric" was not supported by anti-Arroyo sentiments among active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"Ramos will likely increase the pressure [and the] severity of his allegations in the coming months to compel [the President] to resign," it added.

Crying 'Wolf!' scenario

The report was prepared only a week after the Valentine's Day bombings, but no mention was made of the attacks.

It dwelt mainly on coup reports and how they had become so commonplace as to give rise to the "boy who cried wolf" scenario.

"Anti-Arroyo dissenters within the ranks do exist, but they are a shadow of the politically charged and numerous members of RAM-YOU (Revolutionary Nationalist Alliance-Reform the Armed Forces Movement-Young Officers Union) which existed a decade ago," the report said.

It said Abat and former Constabulary chief Ramon Montaño -- whom it both linked to Ramos -- had called for Ms Arroyo's resignation.

"According to intelligence reports, these same individuals have repeatedly asked the active military to oust Arroyo," the report said, adding:

"The retired officers, endorsed by ... Ramos, claim they are exercising their right as citizens to criticize the President."

Charter change

Ramos has been proposing that Ms Arroyo step down next year preparatory to Charter change and a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

He first aired the proposal on July 8, when 10 key government officials quit their posts and called on Ms Arroyo to do the same, and Senate President Franklin Drilon and former President Corazon Aquino publicly urged Ms Arroyo to resign.

On October 20, Ramos again pressed his call for Ms Arroyo to cut short her six-year term.

He clarified that his call for Ms Arroyo to cut short her term "is for a certain purpose," referring to the shift to a parliamentary system.

"I am not saying resign. (It's) cut short her term. What's the difference with resign? You want her to resign tomorrow but that's not possible. What will that bring?" Ramos said.

He wants Ms Arroyo to step down next year.

Instead of a snap election reportedly being pushed by El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Ramos reiterated his call for Charter change that would lead to a shift to a parliamentary form of government and electoral reforms.